Connecticut

A small state with a lot of nicknames: The Nutmeg State, the Constitution State, the Yankee State, the Land of Steady Habits and the Provision State. Public Affairs Officer Jan Krč describes Connecticut, then and now. #50states #CT
Transcript:
Not many people are familiar with my home state. My name is Jan Krč and I'm the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. And I'd like to introduce you to Connecticut. I come from New Haven, Connecticut's second largest city and its principal seaport.
Connecticut is the third smallest state, but also one of the most densely populated. Three and a half million people live within the state's 5 ½ thousand square mile territory.
The name Connecticut comes from the Native American word, Kenetuket, which means, "beside the long tidal river." The official state nickname is the "Constitution State." This is because the early British settlers were governed by the Fundamental Orders of 1638 which are considered by many historians to be the first ever written constitution and these Orders served as the basis for the much better known U.S. Constitution. My state is also known as the "Nutmeg State" and people from Connecticut are sometimes called "Nutmeggers." That nickname may have come from sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries returning from their voyages with this spice.
My state has another nickname, the "Land of the Steady habits." And some people call it the "Yankee State."
Connecticut is one of the original 13 colonies and became an official state in 1788. It's part of the group of states known as New England.
Connecticut was previously home to about 6 to 7 thousand Native Americans before Dutch fur traders arrived in 1614. In 1633, the Dutch purchased land from the Algonquian tribe and erected a fort and trading post at what is now Hartford, the state capital. Later, it was taken over by British settlers from neighboring Massachusetts who established their first settlement in Connecticut at Wethersfield in 1634.
My state is very industrious. It is called the birthplace of Yankee ingenuity, ranking first in the nation in the per capita numbers of engineers and issued patents. As early as 1657, there was a thriving ship building industry in Connecticut.
George Washington even gave Connecticut one more nickname -- "The Provision State" because of the aid the state gave during the Revolutionary War.
Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin in 1798, lived in Connecticut. But did you also know that Whitney was the mastermind behind the idea of mass production? He used standard parts to produce muskets in 1798. That revolutionized industrial production in the U.S. and his cotton gin made that crop pre-eminent in the American south.
In the early 1900s, Groton, Connecticut, became the site of a U.S. Submarine Base. And the state became a munitions supply center in World War I. Connecticut remained an important supplier during the Second World War, producing planes, engines, propellers, submarines and other supplies. The first atomic powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus was launched there in 1954. Today, Groton is still the center for U.S. submarine development and construction.
And modern day Connecticut based factories also produce sewing machines, jet engines, helicopters, motors, hardware, tools, cutlery, clocks, locks and silverware.
Here are some of the firsts for Connecticut:
Founded in 1764, the Hartford Courant is the oldest continuously published newspaper in the U.S.
America's first law school was founded in 1784 in Litchfield.
The first tax-supported public library opened in Salisbury in 1803.
The first commercial telephone exchange was established in New Haven in 1878.
And many other first inventions came from my state like the sewing machine in 1846, ice making machine in 1853, the vacuum cleaner in 1933, the helicopter in 1939 and color TV in 1948.
Connecticut is more than industrial cities. The small colonial towns and rural areas attract many tourists. The resorts along the Long Island Sound shoreline are also popular. In fact, two thirds of the state are open land with more than 100 state parks and forests.
Not only does Connecticut have a beautiful landscape, it's also an easy commute to New York City. That's why many famous people chose to live there. And that might be the reason Connecticut has the highest per capita income of all U.S. states. Katharine Hepburn, Dylan McDermott, Milos Forman and Christopher Walken have all lived in Connecticut. And Meg Ryan grew up in Fairfield.
The 1988 film, "Mystic Pizza," starring Julia Roberts, is based on an actual pizza parlor in Mystic, Connecticut. To this day, the state has the best pizza in the U.S. and it was in a New Haven eatery named Louis that the first ever hamburger was served in 1895. In addition to celebrities, Connecticut has its share of famous people from history.

[@johnpowers2921]

Ct is my home, I was born there, raised my family there, I joined the US Navy and went to Submarine School here , had a great career with the local telephone company (SNET) the first telephone company in the world. Yes there are many problems in CT but every other state has the same problems. The ethnic neighborhoods still thrive and add so much to our culture. I was born here and I expect to spend the rest of my life here. I feel that I was blessed to be born and live here.

[@davidsoto7114]

amen sir

[@kelsieoreta8336]

I'm moving to Connecticut from Texas and I found this video to be interesting and informative. Thank you!

[@bjmartinphotography]

I moved from Texas to San Francisco 12 yrs ago. Now to Connecticut in a couple of weeks. Big change too. Haven't been to Connecticut since early childhood.

[@redspace9712]

CONNECTICUT: Summer: HOT AND HUMID AS HECK!!!!! Winter: FREEZING YOUR TOES OFF WEATHER!! I love you Connecticut

[@BulliezInc]

Not as humid as Maryland be happy lol

[@david2723089]

Thanks for the promo of Connecticut. I never knew all that about my home state. I got to spend 2 weeks in Vienna and Budapest a few years ago. What a great place. Just being there makes you feel so rich. You are lucky to have that job. Thanks again.

[@robinhruggles]

What a great series created by the US Embassy in Vienna. Congratulations for producing a wonderful educational resource (Robin Ruggles, Ph.D., Founder of Eloray online social studies resources).

[@lilijan]

Thank you for the video. I've started reading a story recently which takes place here and realised that I literally don't know anything about it so it was a great source to start learning about this place. Thanks!

[@luistuberchannel3524]

Awesome video on the Constitution State.

[@AmbWCE]

Love the frisbee trivia and shot!

[@kyuketsuki8820]

People in ct always see other drivers with different license plates and they say well why are people here Connecticut is boring. Well history is all in it!!! I think that’s pretty dope

[@rodhigh7]

HI, I was born in Norwalk, CT and grew up in West Haven. I am retired from 18 years in the Foreign Service having survived all of that time overseas in Africa and Asia. I now live in Tombstone, AZ.

[@maboerum]

I, too was from Norwalk,ct

[@becalmlivelifetothefullest6752]

North Haven is my Hometown

[@neil2385]

you forgot to tell the visitor to bring mace

[@9traktor]

Fine advertisement - well done!

[@UnlockYourSoul]

I miss my home :(

[@ricksmith2477]

You just had to go all PC at the end to make yourself feel batter for whatever reason didn't you?

[@arng111]

Rick Smith it's almost impossible to find a video that isn't like that anymore

[@rasta4me]

I love your video, it was very informative and interesting. My only stipulation is in regards to the explanation of the nickname "The Nutmeg State." It has been accepted among nearly all Connecticut historical circles that the nickname is derived from CT citizens' prominent fake nutmeg industry. Our state was known to soak knots from trees in nutmeg oil and sell unsuspecting buyers this cheap alternative in order to make as much money as possible. Again, I love the video very much nonetheless.

[@VictorSanchez-wl8uo]

I love in Connecticut

[@USEmbassyVienna]

Thank you for watching our video. The Connecticut video is part of a collection we started with US Diplomats at the US Embassy in Vienna talking about their home states. The videos are purposely kept short so the officers have a few minutes to give some highlights about their states and also to tell about their favorite things.

[@ms.maryellencasey7671]

My home state, live in Bristol.

[@JeffRogers99]

all you showed was the major citys what about the northen part?

[@adad-ec6ht]

CT is only prosperous owing to its proximity to New York City. Some rich New Yorkers moved to places like Greenwich, CT only to find land.

[@jnossek55]

Connecticut is only prosperous [due to its close proximity] to New York City. Some [affluent] New Yorkers moved [to areas such as] Greenwich, CT. [removed last 4 words] Fixed it up for you bud.

[@adad-ec6ht]

JJ N thanks for correcting Sir. Sorry cant tip you.

[@rickclay]

Not entirely so, Jeff

[@nagihangot6133]

So it's really called Connec-Ticut.

[@freetheweed1207]

cost of living is high and jobs do not pay much simply going to the beach becomes a difficult issue

[@janebuys2225]

Wow I'm from ct.

[@lizandhernandez2515]

Hello people from west haven CT I like it here except that it does get kingdom of boring new haven is also pretty dangerous at night

[@masonthehedgehog6294]

I live here :3 in hartford

[@salmansaad1393]

Great Connecticut

[@freetheweed1207]

Connecticut has a long way to go before it is prosperous for the people

[@rajdeepkaur3628]

Good

[@vb7384]

Tv. color is not from ct

[@JackyVSO]

Amazing that this hasn't been edited or removed by Trump's mission to Austria yet, given that it conflates msivissergorp and itna-yrevals sentiment. Does this mean there's hope for America?

[@JeffRogers99]

oh ok

[@tomyost7763]

Im from east haven lol

[@davidsoto7114]

I hate people from east haven in all honesty, bunch of ignorant entitled hatred people

[@freetheweed1207]

Connecticut does not have any state recreational areas for dirt bikes and ATVs .

[@davidramsay9876]

Wrong, i can think of 3 state-owned ones within 10 minutes of my house

[@johnpowers2921]

You’re wrong. Really take a look if you want or just rag on the state

[@tomyost7763]

Its also really humid and annoying.

[@VictorSanchez-wl8uo]

Live*

[@lizandhernandez2515]

Kind of not kingdom sorry 😌

[@joewoodchuck3824]

Connecticut is great to visit but not to live. Tax climate, political climate, and wx climate all work against residents.

[@freetheweed1207]

too many stuffy closed minded people

[@108nighthawk]

Depends on where you are. But I'm pretty sure you find those types of people everywhere.

[@tylerfish6206]

I’m not fond of Connecticut